Assets

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the value was of (a) thefts, (b) items lost and (c) items lost in transit from his Department's establishments in (i) October 2012, (ii) November 2012, (iii) December 2012, (iv) January 2013, (v) February 2013 and (vi) March 2013; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Francois: The information on thefts is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  £000 
			 October 2012 48 
			 November 2012 29 
			 December 2012 5 
			 January 2013 263 
			 February 2013 46 
			 March 2013 76 
		
	
	The reason for the high figure in January 2013 was as follows:
	Theft of a Tornado Jig Assembly—£193,243
	Theft of NVG—£11,573
	Theft of Military equipment—£36,310
	Further information on losses is not available at this stage because accounts information for financial year 2012-13 has not been finalised and is still subject to audit. Losses information recorded in the accounts only distinguishes between culpable losses and other losses of accountable stores. Figures across the Ministry of Defence for losses in transit could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	Losses of any type are not necessarily recorded in the same month that they occurred. However, it is important that losses are recorded in the correct financial year for accounting purposes.